Hire a real estate attorney for any home sale or purchase, even if your state doesn’t require you to. The contracts are complex, and the stakes are high — it’s worth the extra cost to make sure everything is legally buttoned-down.
— Michele Petry
Michele Petry is a senior editor for Bankrate, leading the site’s real estate content since January 2022. Before joining Bankrate she was a writer and editor for StreetEasy, Zillow’s New York City real estate site. Before that, she amassed 20 years of experience on staff at national magazines, honing her skills editing home-based content at House Beautiful, Elle Decor and Veranda (among other titles). Michele earned her journalism degree from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications and lives in Manhattan.
Buying your first home is scary, stressful and thrilling all at once. I couldn’t believe a bank was willing to lend a young, clueless me what seemed at the time like SO. MUCH. MONEY. The fact that it was a New York City co-op apartment, with all the esoteric rules and nerve-racking interviews that includes, made it even more surreal. I know firsthand how important it is to have a knowledgeable real estate agent to guide you through the journey — mine specialized in my neighborhood, knew the building I was buying in specifically, and saved me from making a million naive missteps. I’m happy to use my experience and skills to help others achieve the dream of homeownership.
Hire a real estate attorney for any home sale or purchase, even if your state doesn’t require you to. The contracts are complex, and the stakes are high — it’s worth the extra cost to make sure everything is legally buttoned-down.
— Michele Petry
What’s the best place to live? That depends on you, of course. Bankrate crunched the numbers in multiple categories, including affordability, job markets and well-being, to determine the best places [...]
This construction term refers to a literal hole dug to provide fill material, such as gravel or soil, for building projects.
This form of housing discrimination involves an agent guiding a client toward a particular area based on legally protected characteristics.
In real estate, a lockoff or lockout refers to a vacation timeshare that’s divided into two units.
Tampa homes are taking longer to sell than they did last year.
The typically busy spring real estate season has been slower than usual.
The five-year housing market outlook, according to industry experts.
Prices are on the rise here, but the market is shifting.
Many factors impact how much you can afford to spend on a house.
This border city offers very affordable home prices.